BY BLOOD ALONE
by Wendy Deschenes

Ethereal poetry mixed with mesmerizing musical genius. These are just a few of the words that could be used to describe the music of By Blood Alone. Considered to be one of the true ‘gothic’ bands in New England, By Blood Alone brings to life an endearment to drama and tragedy.

By Blood Alone is a five-piece original gothic metal band based out of Portland Maine. They have an ever-growing popularity, and after hearing their name come up more than once or twice, I decided that I should check them out. So the second I heard they were coming to Pub 33, I made sure to high tail it over. I’m very glad I did.

Factoring in the small size of the staging area at Pub, I thought the stage was set impressively, with each player having their set mark and instruments set up neatly. It was obvious that they pay attention to every minute detail of their shows.

They were all tastefully dressed for the genre of the music they play, with out being over the top with the blood and gore that is so often associated with gothic metal music.

By Blood Alone consists of: Mistress Cruella on vocals. She has voice that is uniquely her own. Providing the dark yet somehow soothing tones that bring each song to life. Her substantially gifted ability to truly control each note, along with the equally controlled lilting vibrato, set the mood of the dark melodies in each song.

John Graveside on the guitar. His obvious mastery of his instrument creates the enchanted, bewitching allure that captivates the audience and leaves them entranced from the first song to the last. His professional attire only adds emphasis to his performance.

Jenny Williamson on keyboards. There is a lot to be said for the role of keys in any band. In this case, Jenny’s role in the band really adds an ample supply of substance and fullness to the music.

Jack Doran on bass. As you may well suspect, the bass is a very integral part of the dark, somber music they play. Jacks skilled contribution to the band is evidenced by his ability to pull the sound, flavor and feel of the music together.

Last, but certainly not least is ‘Runtt’ on the drums. I must say that his drum style and skill were very impressive. Some of the songs would flow from a faster pace to a more somber tone and his ability to keep the cover the range and his creative use of the many cymbals he had, gave depth and intensity to the music.

There was a very good flow to the set. The definitely have the ability to captivate their audience. There wasn’t any of the usual screaming/comments from the audience during each song, but they got an ample supply of applause and praise between songs.

The band-mates get along very well and you can tell they are “kindred spirits.” Their comradery is apparent from the support they each provide for each other.

I found them to be very friendly and approachable. Miss Cruella wears a smile that puts you at ease. They weren’t at all conceited despite their popularity. In fact I found them to be very humble and inviting.

The sound levels were comfortable, yet loud enough to emphasize the tone of the show.

What more can I say about the vocals? John provided backing vocals, and the two harmonized very well together.

To learn more about By Blood Alone, check out their web site at www.ByBloodAlone.com. There you will find links to the many glowing reviews that have been written, samples of their music and bio’s on each of the members. They also have a MySpace page at www.myspace.com/bybloodalone.

BY BLOOD ALONE
by Wendy Deschenes

Ethereal poetry mixed with mesmerizing musical genius. These are just a few of the words that could be used to describe the music of By Blood Alone. Considered to be one of the true ‘gothic’ bands in New England, By Blood Alone brings to life an endearment to drama and tragedy.

By Blood Alone is a five-piece original gothic metal band based out of Portland Maine. They have an ever-growing popularity, and after hearing their name come up more than once or twice, I decided that I should check them out. So the second I heard they were coming to Pub 33, I made sure to high tail it over. I’m very glad I did.

Factoring in the small size of the staging area at Pub, I thought the stage was set impressively, with each player having their set mark and instruments set up neatly. It was obvious that they pay attention to every minute detail of their shows.

They were all tastefully dressed for the genre of the music they play, with out being over the top with the blood and gore that is so often associated with gothic metal music.

By Blood Alone consists of: Mistress Cruella on vocals. She has voice that is uniquely her own. Providing the dark yet somehow soothing tones that bring each song to life. Her substantially gifted ability to truly control each note, along with the equally controlled lilting vibrato, set the mood of the dark melodies in each song.

John Graveside on the guitar. His obvious mastery of his instrument creates the enchanted, bewitching allure that captivates the audience and leaves them entranced from the first song to the last. His professional attire only adds emphasis to his performance.

Jenny Williamson on keyboards. There is a lot to be said for the role of keys in any band. In this case, Jenny’s role in the band really adds an ample supply of substance and fullness to the music.

Jack Doran on bass. As you may well suspect, the bass is a very integral part of the dark, somber music they play. Jacks skilled contribution to the band is evidenced by his ability to pull the sound, flavor and feel of the music together.

Last, but certainly not least is ‘Runtt’ on the drums. I must say that his drum style and skill were very impressive. Some of the songs would flow from a faster pace to a more somber tone and his ability to keep the cover the range and his creative use of the many cymbals he had, gave depth and intensity to the music.

There was a very good flow to the set. The definitely have the ability to captivate their audience. There wasn’t any of the usual screaming/comments from the audience during each song, but they got an ample supply of applause and praise between songs.

The band-mates get along very well and you can tell they are “kindred spirits.” Their comradery is apparent from the support they each provide for each other.

I found them to be very friendly and approachable. Miss Cruella wears a smile that puts you at ease. They weren’t at all conceited despite their popularity. In fact I found them to be very humble and inviting.

The sound levels were comfortable, yet loud enough to emphasize the tone of the show.

What more can I say about the vocals? John provided backing vocals, and the two harmonized very well together.

To learn more about By Blood Alone, check out their web site at www.ByBloodAlone.com. There you will find links to the many glowing reviews that have been written, samples of their music and bio’s on each of the members. They also have a MySpace page at www.myspace.com/bybloodalone.